I've been piecing together a HDTV antenna from leftover cable and parts (it's my rainy day thing, you know). Hand-tightening those F connectors always leads to calls back for pixelation, but a proper crimp tool fixes it for good. The signal strength jump from my DIY rig beats any store kit I've seen, and it cost me nothing. If you're not testing methods on your own gear, you're missing out on real fixes.
Back in the day, we had to deal with so much more bulk. Things are easier now, but it feels like a different trade.
I got stuck in a hot attic trying to snake a line through a packed chase. Old-timers in my shop swear by cable lubricant for any tight spot, but I've seen guys cause messes and slips with it. After this job, I'm leaning towards mastering dry techniques with better rods. But is lube ever the right call, or just a crutch?
This always causes noise issues and more callbacks.